Home > Uniquely Unspoilt Magazine > Issue 16 > Burns' Night

~~ Burns' Night ~~

Burns? Night

Held all over the world on January 25th, Robert Burns? presumed birthday, the Burns Supper is an integral part of the Scottish calendar and has been taking place annually for around 200 years now. While events may vary in location, size and formality, what they all have in common is a food and drink-fuelled celebration of the national Bard.

Here is a brief guide to Burns? Night, should you wish to host an event yourself or even so you know what to expect if you?re attending an event for the first time.

The Selkirk Grace

The reading of the Selkirk Grace is an important part of the event and its purpose is to usher in the meal. It is at this point that the soup ? traditional cock a leekie (chicken and leek) ? is served.

Piping in the haggis

The meal?s main attraction will now enter the room on a silver platter, with the piper leading the procession and followed by the chef and the person who will address the haggis - and there's often a whisky-bearer to make sure it receives a proper toast. Guests should be standing at this point and often clap in time to the music until the haggis reaches the end of its journey ? the table.

Address to the haggis

Time-honoured tradition states that the reader should now recite "To a Haggis" in their most convincing/entertaining Lowland Scots accent, and should cut the haggis at certain points of the poem. Cutting the casing along its length at ?His knife see Rustic-labour dight", and letting some of the insides spill out ("trenching its gushing entrails"), the recital ends with the reader raising the haggis during the final line ("Gie her a Haggis!?) at which point the audience applauds, shouts ?the haggis!? and raises their whisky glasses.

Serving the haggis

The haggis is served ?wi' bashit neeps an' champit tatties? (mashed turnips and potatoes), followed by a dessert of "typsy Laird" (a Scottish sherry trifle). Haggis is no longer not just for meat eaters ? several tasty vegetarian variations, for example Macsween?s exist too. The haggis also has a little bit of whisky added too sometimes.

Entertainment

There are often recitals of famous Burns works such as "Ae Fond Kiss? and his best loved tale "Tam O'Shanter?, which was written near his home Ellisland Farm near Dumfries (see previous literary places), and is brought to life in an audio visual presentation by the Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway, Ayrshire.

There is also usually the Immortal Memory which is a tribute to the life, works and all round importance of Burns ending with the toast, "To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns!"

There is often also a toast to the Lassies and the reply to the toast to the Lassies, a humorous tribute to woman ? and equally humorous response - quoting from Burns himself which originated as a thanks to the lassies for preparing the meal. It is then followed by the reply thanking the speaker for his (hopefully) kind words.

Ending the evening

The host ends the meal with a vote of thanks for everyone who attended, and no Burns? Supper would be complete without a rendition of Auld Lang Syne (and remember to revise the lyrics!).

The following holiday cottages are relevant to and available for Burns' Night: